“He Was a Little Disappointed”: 18 Years After Locking Horns, 4x Mr. Olympia Recalls His Time With Late “Fierce Competitor” Gustavo Badell

Bodybuilding legend and four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler is among the biggest names in bodybuilding. Despite not competing for a decade, the man who dethroned The King has stayed relevant. The legion of fans he earned during his prime has stuck with the Comeback Kid. Fans also love the great friendship Jay Cutler and Ronnie Coleman share. However, recently another competitor, Gustavo Badell, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the former Mr. Olympias on stage, tragically passed away.

In the latest episode of his popular YouTube series Jaywalking, Jay Cutler spoke about Gustavo Badell. The video went live on YouTube on July 16. However, it seems Cutler filmed the video a day after Badell’s passing. The 49-year-old brought up the “sad news yesterday,” and recalled his time with the late bodybuilder.

Jay Cutler recalls competing with Badell on the Olympia stage

The four-time Mr. Olympia recalled an interaction he had with Badell on stage that stayed with him. While Cutler recalled the incident, a brief clip of the moment Cutler was describing played in a pop-up window inside the video. The short clip showed Badell going up to the Comeback Kid and congratulating him.

The former Arnold Classic champion explained how Badell made it to the biggest stage of bodybuilding. “I mean he came on really hard for the ’04, ’05 Olympia,” Cutler said. “[He] was third to me and Ronnie,” for the 2005 and 2006 Mr. Olympia, said the bodybuilding icon. The cameraman said Badell was happy when Cutler dethroned Ronnie Coleman in 2006. 

However, Jay Cutler had a different of Gustavo Badell. “I think he was a little disappointed in those years,” said the three-time Arnold Classic champion. While Badell might have been happy for Cutler, he was “like a super fierce competitor,” added the 49-year-old. Coming so close to winning the Olympia, but not must have affected a competitive bodybuilder like Gustavo Badell. Like Cutler, Dave Palumbo also attested to the late bodybuilder’s mental resolve.

Gustavo Badell didn’t compromise on his principles 

After news of Gustavo Badell’s passing broke, former pro bodybuilder and ex-editor-in-chief of Muscular Development talked about his interaction with Badell. Dave Palumbo recalled talking to Badell at a time the Mr. Olympia bronze medalist was angry with the magazine.

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Palumbo recalled that Muscular Development had snubbed the bodybuilder after promising to feature him on their cover. After the incident, the 55-year-old understood the mental resolve that Badell had. “[He] would not compromise his principles for anyone,” said the former pro bodybuilder.

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While Gustavo Badell might have never won the Mr. Olympia, his peer held the latter bodybuilder in high regard.